AP unveils Land Pooling Policy to build new state capital

The Andhra Pradesh government unveiled a Land Pooling Policy on Monday, to secure about 30,000 acres of land in order to construct a greenfield, riverfront capital city for the state on the southern side of the Krishna river, close to Vijayawada in the Guntur district. 

Pooling of land for the capital would begin tomorrow as a majority of 22,405 farmers in 29 villages which comprise the proposed Andhra Pradesh state capital region are ready to part with their lands, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said, announcing the new policy here this afternoon. 

The state government would immediately release a sum of Rs 200 crore to provide debt relief of upto Rs 1.5 lakh to each farmer as a one-time settlement. "Farmers who give their lands for the capital will get immense benefits as I promised to render justice to all. This will be the best land pooling package on offer in the country and we will build a world-class capital city for which the Singapore government will prepare the masterplan," the Chief Minister said at a press conference.
Under the package, farmers owning dry land would be given 1,000 square yards of residential plot and 200 square yards of commercial plot as compensation for every acre given to the Andhra Pradesh government. Owners of wet land would be given 1,000 square yards of residential land and 300 square yards of commercial plots in the proposed zone closer to their existing lands.
Besides, owners of dry land would also be paid Rs 30,000 per annum as compensation for ten years, with a 10 per cent hike every year, while those owning wet lands would get Rs 50,000 as well as a 10 per cent hike per annum.